3 SEC basketball players Lakers can target in 2024 NBA Draft ft. Rob Dillingham
The SEC has produced numerous players who have been selected early in the NBA draft. The conference will introduce many top prospects into this year's draft as teams look to add more young stars.
The LA Lakers finished 42-35 last season, eighth place in the Western Conference. They own the No. 17 pick and the No. 55 pick via the LA Clippers.
Here's a look at three players from the Southeastern Conference that the Lakers could target in the 2024 NBA draft, which begins Wednesday.
3 SEC players the Lakers could target in the 2024 NBA draft
#3, Justin Edwards, Kentucky
Kentucky forward Justin Edwards played just one season with the Wildcats and started in 30 of the 32 games he appeared in. He averaged just over 20 minutes per game with 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists.
Edwards, a five-star recruit in the 2023 class, was the third-ranked overall national recruit. He received 22 offers from top programs and four SEC schools, including Auburn, Tennessee, LSU and Kentucky.
The 6-foot-8 freshman has the ideal frame for an NBA small forward and plays well on both ends of the floor. He shot 36.5% from 3-point range last season at Kentucky and would give the Lakers a good wing option as a spot-up shooter.
He has shown a steady shooting ability, but he can also use his athleticism to get to the rim and score inside. His length will give the Lakers a good perimeter defender who can get after the ball and cause turnovers.
Edwards impressed at the draft combine and is projected to be a mid-to-late second-round pick. If he lands near that spot in the draft, this could be the perfect player for the Lakers to use the No. 55 pick on.
#2, Rob Dillingham, Kentucky
Another SEC player from Kentucky whom the Lakers could target in the NBA draft is guard Rob Dillingham. Dillingham also spent just one season at Kentucky and ranked second on the team in scoring, averaging 15.2 ppg.
Dillingham, a four-star recruit in the 2023 class, was the No. 21 player overall. The 6-2 guard from Overtime Elite in Atlanta, earned 21 offers out of high school. A few of the programs that made offers to Dillingham included Auburn, Kansas, North Carolina and Tennessee.
He enrolled at Kentucky in late June of 2023 to join the team for the 2023–24 season. He played a role at Kentucky similar to former Wildcats and current NBA star Devin Booker. He started in just one of the 32 games he appeared in, but his 23.3 minutes per game allowed him to show flashes of NBA potential.
His offensive skillset and quickness are what make him a first-round draft projection. He is a dominant scorer from any spot on the floor but has work to do on being a true NBA floor general point guard. He is projected to be selected in the mid-first round, between the 14 and 20 picks. This could see him fall right near the Lakers' No. 17 pick.
The PG spot is a question mark for the Lakers after the performances of D'Angelo Russell, Spencer Dinwiddie and Gabe Vincent last season. Selecting Dillingham could give them a young point guard with a bright future who could lead them in the years to come.
#1, Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
While Reed Sheppard might be the top SEC prospect, it's expected that he will fall within the top five. With the Lakers' earliest pick at No. 17, it is unlikely that Sheppard will fall that far. However, they may have a slight chance of selecting Tennessee's Dalton Knecht.
If Knecht falls outside of the top 10, the Lakers could have the chance to scoop him up with the 17th pick, which would be an absolute steal. Knecht transferred to Tennessee after two seasons of junior college at Northeastern, followed by two seasons at Northern Colorado.
Knecht was the SEC Player of the Year and a consensus All-American last season. He averaged a career-high 21.7 ppg along with 4.9 rpg and 1.8 apg.
The 6-5 guard has plenty of experience against a wide range of competition and has an extremely refined skillset. Although he may not be seen as a player with much room for improvement at the next level, he possesses all the necessary skills to succeed in the NBA. Because of his size and shooting capabilities, he is very difficult to defend against from a variety of spots on the floor.
Despite his lack of speed or athleticism, he still has the basketball instincts and skill set to be a valuable addition to any team in the NBA draft. The Lakers are looking for more depth at shooting guard behind Austin Reaves, and Knecht could give them a mature player who is ready to contribute right away.
Which SEC player do you think the Los Angeles Lakers should target in the 2024 NBA draft? Let us know in the comment section.